ICD-10 Code K85.2 – Alcohol induced acute pancreatitis (2026): Diagnosis, Symptoms & Billing Guide
2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code K85.2 – Alcohol induced acute pancreatitis
What it is
K85.2 identifies an acute inflammation of the pancreas caused by alcohol use. Use this code when the record clearly links the pancreatitis episode to alcohol.
Clinical signs
Typical findings include sudden upper abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting, with clinical features consistent with acute pancreatitis. Clinical features vary; refer to documentation.
When to use this code
Use K85.2 when the provider documents acute pancreatitis and specifies alcohol as the cause. It is appropriate for inpatient or outpatient encounters where the episode is being treated or evaluated. Check documentation if the cause is unclear or mixed.
Do not use for
Do not use this code for chronic pancreatitis, unspecified pancreatitis, or pancreatitis without a documented alcohol cause. If another etiology is stated, code that condition instead.
Coding tip
Assign K85.2 only when alcohol causation is documented explicitly; otherwise, query the provider.